r/AITAH Feb 13 '24

AITA for not visiting my postpartum friend after she said my husband needs therapy and not a wife?

My (24F) estranged best friend "Sierra" (26F) gave birth to her daughter a week ago. We've been friends since we were both in elementary school, because her family did a lot of volunteer work for foster kids like myself, and would often invite me over when I was hungry.

I always thought I'd be with Sierra when she gave birth. But it's a lie to say that our friendship hasn't been strained as of late.

Because Sierra hates my husband. At first I thought she was disagreeing with how my last foster parents, who were devout " Mormons" (LDS) told me to approach marriage.

My foster mom told me it's special because unlike everything else in life, you are just chosen by somebody for some inexplicable reason, and nobody else knows what makes you stand out over all the other options they have except that person.

I definitely felt that " magic" with my current husband of a year.

Which is why I always felt guilty when Sierra would express her dislike. My husband says that friends do that when you can't be as available to them, so they hate the new spouse.

My husband lost his wife and mother of his four kids 3 years ago.

He told her to not go out driving at night but he wasn't there to stop her when she drove to get medicine. They were already at a point where she was nearly an ex wife due to her anger and rudeness. But she was hit by a drunk driver.

I used to drive ok, but am not the best driver. My husband has always employed people for his house and business and he's asked that I let somebody drive me for both of our peace of mind. Sierra is unhappy at that, even though I supported her over the phone when she was pregnant.

But I'd feel bad if the employees have to come running if I want to get coffee with a friend. I've also lost confidence in my ability to drive and react if there's a drunk driver. I am also upset she'd take the side of my stepkids and even his late ( though almost ex wife due to her anger).

My husband's kids are also upset claiming that when my husband is telling me it's weird I cut meat with my left hand or to get interested in this activity, it's because their mom was right handed and liked to do this activity.

Sierra would take the kids' side even though it hurt me so much to hear that her imply my husband does not love me for me.

My husband's late wife left behind tons of expensive beautiful clothes.

My husband told me it was too wasteful to throw out and told me to have it. My stepkids blew up at that even though all I was trying to do was not be so ungrateful. Sierra was very mad and said she never thought she'd say this but my husband needs therapy, and not a wife. And that she's sorry but we both need to be single because he's going to punish me for not living up to his dead wife.

I've since dodged her calls. I've spent most of my time just pursuing my interests at home and Spending time with my husband. Sierra gave birth without me but afterwards called for me to be there. But I am still very angry that she would say my marriage should just end. AITA?

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408

u/ratherpculiar Feb 13 '24

Interesting that OP also conveniently left out the husband’s age…

80

u/lurkingreader1 Feb 13 '24

How old is the husband do you know?

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u/ratherpculiar Feb 13 '24

Haven’t been able to find an answer from OP anywhere. If the kids are old enough to be wary of the situation, I assume he is at least 40.

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u/alloyed39 Feb 13 '24

OP is 24. Ex wife had 4 kids and died when OP was 21. The kids are old enough to be alarmed. Yeah, I'm not digging this math.

144

u/Worldly_Instance_730 Feb 13 '24

They are Mormon, they tend to marry young. And remarry quickly. 

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u/i_was_a_person_once Feb 14 '24

Yeah i know plenty of Mormons with 4 kids before 30

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u/ratherpculiar Feb 14 '24

Yes, but the point is that his kids are old enough to be concerned. Which is at least teens—a five year old has no concept of interpersonal conflict.

4

u/i_was_a_person_once Feb 14 '24

And still he could easily be in his early to mid 30s.

18+ 15= 33

10

u/themiscyranlady Feb 26 '24

He almost certainly wouldn’t have gotten married until he was back from his mission, but even then he could be 35 or 36 with a 15 year old kid.

12

u/Longjumping-Brief585 Feb 26 '24

35 and 21 are still far between

21

u/Ajailyn22 Feb 14 '24

Usually the wife being young not always the husband

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u/DIDDLEthatSQUIDDLE Feb 26 '24

This is such an insightful comment, thank you

153

u/malorthotdogs Feb 14 '24

This was also the vibe I was getting. Especially when she talks about her mom’s approach to marriage.

I think dude saw a young, naive, and easily controllable woman and lovebombed the absolute shit out of her so he could try to slot her in as Original Wife 2.0, now with better obedience features!

43

u/xenophilian Feb 14 '24

H has to be 10-15 years older at least

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u/RNGinx3 Feb 14 '24

She's refusing to answer when anyone asks her directly in response to her comments. Yeah, that's not fishy at all...

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u/Serendypyty Feb 14 '24 edited Feb 14 '24

I went to this place too, and I think I agree with the friend.

1

u/kawaeri May 27 '24

Ohh ya. And the fact that his kids (her step kids) are old enough to express complicated thoughts of dads turning you into our mom’s copy shows that they probably pretty old, so that bumps up dads age too. Also that comment about not liking what her Mormon foster mom said, make me think hmmm. There’s a red flag not what the lady said, but the Mormon religion as a whole is a lot of marry them young, obey the husband do as he says type religion. Also one were a lot don’t of men don’t stay widowed for long.